Archive | June, 2015

Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte—A former drug user, believe that there is still hope for a change. He had found the right track in his life, when he joined and volunteered in Kalahi-CIDSS, because he was convinced that this program would help him to become an empowered person, according to a 49 year old Noel Leonar.

Lead to change

A married and a father of two children and used to be a docile citizen of their community. He could still recall when he started to take some dope, influenced by his circle of friends. Those years, his life became miserable, to the point that he was left by his family, relatives and even his wife and children. He underwent medication in rehabilitation for quiet several times, until such time that he joined the Kalahi-CIDSS volunteers, where he opened his eyes and heart to a different perspective. He became advocates in community development, campaigns against poverty and starts to love the Kalahi-CIDSS way of volunteerism. “ Mahinduman lang nako, sa dihang naka attend ko sa mga trainings sa Kalahi, mao kani ang nagpamata ug naghatag kanako sa insaktong dalan ug naghatag ug bili sa akong kinabuhi (I could still remember, when I attended the trainings of Kalahi, that really opened my eyes and gave me the right direction and value of life)”, Noel said.

Kalahi CIDSS through the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach answers community issues in particular to address poverty in the community. Using this strategy, it empowers ordinary citizens to actively and directly participate in local governance by identifying their own community needs, planning, implementing and monitoring projects to address poverty issues collectively.

Sharing of endowments

In 2012, Noel Leonar volunteered to join Kalahi-CIDSS, because he felt the sincerity of the program that made him and other volunteers inspired to do community development. He became as one of the active volunteers in the community, his unique talents, like art designing and fashion designing invited him to do more community activities, particularly in environmental movement.

Being now a responsible citizen of his community, he perceived the financial condition of his fellow volunteers, which he believes need to be answered. He made himself as one of the most dynamic volunteers in the project implementation. There were 25 volunteers working hand in hand.

The 92 graduates together with the DSWD Staffs, TESDA, SMI and representatives from the LGU of Camiguin

Camiguin — An increasing number of beneficiaries under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development are now getting brighter days ahead after completing technical vocational courses offered by the Department in the last few months.

In this province, 92 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries coming from the municipalities of Mambajao, Guinsiliban, Sagay and Catarman, have just received their NCII certificates for Housekeeping after finishing a 30-day intensive skills training program spearheaded by Skills Mastery Institute (SMI) and with assistance from the DSWD under its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) which is a multi-stakeholder program of the department that aims to improve the standard of living of poor households by facilitating opportunities for development and management of resources viable for micro-enterprises, community empowerment through skills trainings and employment facilitation.

The SLP gives significant priority to the PantawidPamilya beneficiaries in all its interventions since they are considered to be the poorest of the poor as signified by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR).

According to Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo, Regional Director of the DSWD, the NCII certificates the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries have received, serves as a guarantee that they will gain decent jobs locally and abroad.

Under the Republic Act 7796, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is mandated by law to develop and implement a national system of skills standardization, assessment and certification in the country. Skills certification is the process of assessing the skills of workers or individuals based on the skills standards or a set of competencies for the occupation.All Certified Workers registered in TESDA will be linked to certain occupations nationwide.

In further collaboration with TESDA, 9 beneficiaries of the total graduates are now preparing their credentials for a job awaiting them in the Middle East. This opportunity is made possible by SMI’s partner agency, the Greengate International Manpower Company.

The Island born out of fire holds 6,402 of our Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries and recipient of the various social protection programs of the DSWD.

Cagayan de Oro – The Department of Social Welfare and Development recently conducted the Alternative Dispute Resolution and Grievance Redress System training for its Regional Project Management Office staff and the Sub Regional Project Management staff under Kalahi-CIDSS National Community Driven Development Program (KC-NCDDP), held at Chali Beach Resort Hotel.

The KC-NCDDP is a flagship anti-poverty program of the national government that promotes transparency, active participation, and it empowers people through the community-driven development (CDD) approach. Since the program promotes accountability in its project implementation including the people behind it, the Grievance Redress System (GRS) was created as one of the mechanisms used to responds to queries and clarifications about the program and to problems that arise out of the implementation.

The objectives of the training are to develop and enhance the skills of Regional Project Management Office (RPMO) Staff and Sub Regional Project Management Office (SRPMO) Staff in the field of mediation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution handling. The activity also promotes the deeper understanding of Grievance System that will ensure its viability in all levels of the project implementation.

Other highlights of the training were the workshop and actual execution in handling conflict management. On the other hand, Mr. Martin Canguit General Administration and Support Services Division Chief of DSWD X shared also the Regional Grievance System of the department.

The activity ended with the closing remarks by Ms. Teofreda Dingal Deputy Regional Program Manager of Kalahi CIDSS, with words of encouragement and guidance to all RPMO and SRPMO staff to do their job well in order to be fair and righteous in dealing the Grievance Redress System.

The Listahanan at Work Photo Contest is in line with the Department of Social Welfare’s Listahanan second round of assessment, which will cover 15.3 million households nationwide.

As per Executive Order 867 series of 2010, this assessment will be conducted once every four years. It is a very vital undertaking as it will define the quality of data and information for the database that will serve as basis for beneficiary selection of national government programs and services for the next four years.

The Listahanan at Work Photo Contest involves an orientation on the 2nd round household assessment and an excursion in areas where participants will take pictures of the actual assessment.

CONTEST MECHANICS:

1. All photography enthusiasts aged 16 to 25 years old may join the contest by submitting to the nearest DSWD Field Office by e-mail (fo10@dswd.gov.ph) the scanned copy of the accomplished application form (https://fo10.dswd.gov.ph/downloads/listahanan-at-work-photo-contest-application-form/), and at least three (3) sample photos taken in digital format.

2. Applicants with the best sample photos submitted shall be contacted by the DSWD Field Office. They will officially compete in the regional photo contest.

3. DSWD Field Office shall set the date for a study tour. Photographers will be given an orientation on the Listahanan 2nd round of assessment before being deployed to the field to take photos. They will be accompanied by a guide who will ensure that the activity will not disrupt the assessment or influence its outcome.

4. Before the activity ends, participants will submit three (3) of their best photos to their guide. These photos must depict the theme of the contest, “Listahanan at work: identifying families in need of social protection.”

5. Photographers must ensure that the photos to be submitted must bear the following filename format:

Name (space) Title of the Paragraph (space) Region

Spaces in between the first and last names in between words in long titles shall be substituted by underscores.

6. The DSWD shall have no liability for the delayed, corrupted, or lost entries.

7. All entries must be taken during the study tour and should not include watermarks, signatures, frames, data and/or time stamp or any other markings on the photo.

8. Digital manipulation is not allowed. Enhancements must be limited to basic post-processing such as adjustments of contrast, minimal color-balancing, sharpening, cropping, and dodging and burning.

9. The DSWD respects the rights of photographers and recognizes that the copyright of the photograph belongs to the photographer. Thus, the DSWD will give appropriate credit whenever the photo is published and used by the Department for the purpose of information, advocacy, campaigns and promotions in all its future projects, whether print, online, or any other medium.

CRITERIA FOR JUDGING

1. The regional awards committee shall be composed of five (5) judges coming from the DSWD Field Office, partner national government agencies, and a renowned artist/photographer in the region. Only the top three (3) entries shall be awarded.

2. The criteria for judging the photograph are as follows:

CRITERIA

40% – Thematic Relevance – Relevance of the photograph to the theme of the contest

10% – Audience Impact – Appeal of the photograph to viewers as evidences by the number of likes and shares in Facebook

30% – Creativity and Originality – Style, technique, and skill

20% – Technical Excellence – Clarity and quality of photograph

TOTAL: 100%

AWARDS

1. The top 3 shall be informed through e-mail. The DSWD Field Office will also post an official announcement on its website and the Listahanan Facebook page a month after the conduct of the study tour.

2. Awarding will only be conducted at the regional level as part of the National Statistics Month (NSM).

3. The winning entries shall receive the following cash prizes:

1st prize – Php10,000 + Plaque

2nd prize – Php7,000 + Plaque

3rd prize – Php5,000 + Plaque

Honorable Mention

(at least 3) – Php2,000 + Plaque

4. In addition, regional first placers will be invited to attend the National Launching of Listahanan 2 Database of Poor Families. Printouts of their photographs will be exhibited during the event. Costs of photo developing, transportation / attendance to the event and other related expenses shall be shouldered by the DSWD.

For clarifications, you may call the Social Marketing Unit (088) 858-8134 local 103, or Ms. Mitzie Santiago at 0906-263-1785, or through Facebook Page “DSWD Field Office X.”

Cagayan de Oro City — They have nothing to say, but, to say their thanks.

On the day of their departure to Manila from here, the eleven Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries who finished a housekeeping course paid a courtesy call to DSWD Northern Mindanao to express their thanks and promise to do their best in living out from poverty.

Mitzi Pactanan, mother of seven children, told Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo, Regional Director of DSWD Northern Mindanao, that she has been preparing her husband, her children and herself emotionally because she is leaving for work in Saudi Arabia.

Pactanan finished the skills training at Skills Mastery Institute under the Sustainable Livelihood Program last May 2015.

She feels blessed with the TESDA-accredited training at SMI because “I was given a big opportunity by the government to undergo skills training for free and they facilitated to help me find employment.”

Pactanan, a resident of Mauswagon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, urged her fellow graduates to make use of their skills to improve their well-being.

Pactanan said she has been dreaming for a better life and the national government fulfilled her dreams. “Nangandoy jud ko sa una pa nga mo-angat among panginabuhian. Salamat kaayo sa national government. Hinaot daghan pa ang inyong matabangan. We feel nga love kaayo mi ninyo,” said Pactanan. (Before, I dreamed of a better life. Thank you very much for the national government. I hope you can help more people like us. We feel you love us more.)

Work in Saudi Arabia

Pactanan is among the first batch of SMI graduates who will work as housekeeping personnel in Saudi Arabia.

Four of her batchmates: Sheryl Gequilan of Parola, Macabalan this city; Glory May Llemit and Emeelyn Roco of Bal-ason, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental; and Rizalina Alora of Sangalan, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental; are set to depart for Saudi Arabia on June 22, 2015.

The other seven, including Pactanan, will momentarily stay in Manila for passport processing and pre-employment seminar.

Dr. Irene Floro, president of SMI, told Atty. Solamillo and TESDA 10 Regional Director Edgar Sales that SMI will shoulder for the food and accommodation of the 11 DSWD beneficiaries in Manila for free.

The SLP recently conducted series of graduation exercises with the support of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and their accredited schools, highlighting the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries’ completion of various Technical Vocational (TechVoc) Skills Training programs in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental.

Monitor workers

Atty. Solamillo, during the courtesy call, reminded the future overseas workers that DSWD will continue to monitor the well-being and status of their respective families.

The regional director emphasized that municipal links have been ordered to provide psycho-social interventions to the families they will leave behind.

The future overseas workers, Solamillo added, must also accept the fact that they will feel lonely being far from their respective families.

One way of overcoming it, she said, is to pray.

Engr. Sales, for his part, told the beneficiaries to adhere to the values taught by DSWD, TESDA and SMI in their workplace.

Sales is optimistic that the beneficiaries are equipped with skills that are more than what is being demanded by their employers.

The SLP facilitates opportunities for the development and management of resource-based, culturally sensitive, market driven and economically viable micro-enterprises; employment facilitation; community empowerment through skills enhancement trainings; link program participants to micro-insurance providers and promote comprehensive family-based approach and community participation.

Meanwhile the Pantawid Pamilya program is the national government’s social development program that provides conditional cash grants to poor families with children aged 18 years old and below. A household could receive a maximum of P1,400 a month for their health, nutrition and education provided that they comply with conditions of the Program. These conditions include availing of regular preventive health check-ups and vaccines, maintaining at least 85% school attendance, and regularly attending family development sessions.

Cagayan de Oro City – A total of 106 individuals under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program are now equipped with technical skills that could enable them to establish their own businesses or apply for a job here and abroad. This was done by the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

The SLP recently conducted series of graduation exercises with the support of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and their accredited schools, highlighting the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries’ completion of various Technical Vocational (TechVoc) Skills Training programs in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental.

The SLP facilitates opportunities for the development and management of resource-based, culturally sensitive, market driven and economically viable micro-enterprises; employment facilitation; community empowerment through skills enhancement trainings; link program participants to micro-insurance providers and promote comprehensive family-based approach and community participation.

In partnership with Iligan Access Institute of Technology, the DSWD facilitated the culmination of six Pantawid beneficiaries who finished Housekeeping NC II and Driving NC II, who took the training program for 42 days and 65 days respectively.

The DSWD, together with the Iligan Multi-Skills Development Incorporated (IMDI), also enabled 50 Pantawid beneficiaries to complete a 30-day Cookery NC II program, of which the graduates received individual starter kits, comprised of basic cooking tools such as burners, cooking pan/pots, ladles and among other materials. The participants of these programs were mostly mothers coming from the municipalities of Linamon, Matungao and Poona Piagapo, Lanao del Norte.

Another 50 beneficiaries graduated from Oroquieta Agricultural Industry School (OAIS), of which 36 program participants are recipient of Automotive Servicing NC II while 14 received Commercial Cooking NC II certification. The participants also received their respective starter kits. Further, the 36 Automotive Servicing NC II graduates received sets of tool box worth P8,500 each, while the other 14 graduates received cooking materials worth P6,000 each.

To date, there are now 108,998 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in Northern Mindanao who are enjoying the benefits of the SLP.

Northern Mindanao – For the 2nd Quarter of 2015, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will embark on the Listahanan Second Round Assessment which will cover 15.3 million households nationwide.
Listahanan is an information management system that the government uses in identifying who and where the poor are. As per Executive Order 867 series of 2010, the assessment will be conducted once every four years. It is a very vital undertaking as it will define the quality of data and information for the database that will serve as basis for beneficiary selection of national government programs and services for the next four years.
Various communication activities that complement each phase of the second cycle will be conducted to engage the public , keep them informed,and acquire their support, understanding and appreciation of the results of the 2nd assessment. Among these activities is the conduct of the Listahanan at Work Photo Contest.
It aims to promote transparency on the process of identifying the poor and raise awareness and understanding on activities involved in the 2nd round of assessment . This activity involves an orientation of the 2nd round of assessment and an excursion in areas where participants will take pictures of the actual assessment.
The Photo Contest is open to all photography enthusiasts in Northern Mindanao aged 16 to 25 years old. . The theme for the Contest is Listahanan at Work : Identifying Families in need of social protection.
For those interested to join, they may email a scanned copy of the accomplished Application Form which they can download at fo10@dswd.gov.ph. And submit it to the nearest DSWD Field Office with at least three (3) sample photos in digital format . Applicants with the best sample photos submitted and who will officially compete in the regional photo contest shall be contacted by the DSWD Field Office.
Deadline for the submission of application is on June 24, 2015.